Dalata’s revenue is recovering to pre-pandemic levels with expansion in Ireland, UK

Ireland’s largest hotel operator, Dalata, expects revenue per room to more than double this spring compared to pre-pandemic levels.

However, in a statement ahead of today’s AGM, Chairman John Hennessy said the company remains “cautious” about the impact of inflation and the impact of the war in Ukraine.

Several Dalata hotels are currently hosting Ukrainian refugees in Dublin and the rest of Ireland.

Revenue per room in March and April is projected to reach 109 per cent of 2019 levels and to exceed 2019 levels in Dalata’s Dublin, regional Irish and UK sections.

The group will increase the number of rooms in service by at least 20 percent by the end of 2022, it said.

A new Maldron Hotel will open on Merrion Road in Dublin in the coming months. A new Clayton Hotel is about to open in Glasgow, Scotland.

The group has opened four new hotels so far this year, including Dalata’s first hotel in continental Europe, the Hotel Nikko in Dusseldorf, Germany, and two hotels in the UK (Manchester and Bristol).

Today marks the opening of Dalata’s newest property, the €39 million four-star Samuel Hotel in Dublin’s Docklands.

Dalata chairman John Hennessy said “2021 was another challenging year,” but said the company was “firmly on course for recovery” in 2022.

“Looking ahead, we are optimistic for the summer months given increased flight capacity and a strong calendar of events, but remain cautious about the impact of inflation,” he said

“We continue to proactively manage the business in response to ongoing inflationary pressures.

“Our decentralized model, supported by our central teams, our dynamic pricing strategies and culture of cost discipline help us respond to the cost increases we are seeing particularly in labour, energy and food.

“We are confident in our ability to respond to the evolving needs of our customers and to secure additional opportunities as we position Dalata for sustained growth.”